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DOI:: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.256.1.9

Volume/Issue:: Volume 256: Issue 1

Online Publication Date:: 01 Jan 2020

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IN SHORT

DEADLY SWINE DISEASE SPREADS IN ASIA

African swine fever reached at least 10 more countries in Asia during 2019, and unconfirmed reports implicate the virus in deaths from one more.

The ASF virus is hardy and deadly. Outbreaks can kill entire herds of domestic swine.

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) officials reported in September 2019 that the ASF crisis was destabilizing the world market for pork products. By early November, at least 23 countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe were dealing with new or ongoing outbreaks.

Authorities in China reported their country's first outbreaks in August 2018. Subsequent reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations indicate that, since January 2019, animal health authorities confirmed infections in the following countries, in this order: Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, North Korea, Laos, the Philippines, Myanmar, South Korea, and Timor-Leste. FAO officials cited news reports from November that indicate about 5,800 pigs died in 11 regions of Indonesia and people found more pig carcasses in a river and a lake, but the causes of death were unknown.

Dr. Mark Schipp, president of the OIE, said in late October about one-quarter of the world's pigs may die because of ASF, according to a report from the Associated Press.

RESEARCHERS WORK TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PRRS VIRUS

A grant of nearly $3 million is helping researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and collaborators at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute investigate how porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus evolves and spreads.

PRRS virus costs the U.S. swine industry more than $560 million each year. Since its emergence in the United States during the late 1980s, scientists have worked to reduce its impact.

Awarded in September 2019, the grant is supporting research intended to help scientists and producers anticipate a herd's susceptibility to different strains of PRRS virus and customize mitigation efforts accordingly. The data generated could also be used to inform future vaccine designs.

“Studying PRRS virus's evolution will help us better understand and hopefully control PRRS virus, but it will also help us understand the evolution and drivers of genetic diversity in viruses in humans and other animals,” said Kim VanderWaal, PhD, principal investigator on the project and an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine at the veterinary college.

EDUCATION COUNCIL SCHEDULES SITE VISITS

The AVMA Council on Education has scheduled site visits to nine schools and colleges of veterinary medicine for 2020.

Comprehensive site visits are planned for the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Feb. 9-13; the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, March 29-April 2; the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, April 26-May 1; the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, May 17-21; the University of Melbourne, Melbourne Veterinary School, Aug. 9-14; Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, Sept. 13-17; The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Oct. 18-22; the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Oct. 31-Nov. 6; and the University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, Nov. 15-19.

The council welcomes written comments on these plans or the programs to be evaluated. Comments should be addressed to Dr. Karen Martens Brandt, Director, Education and Research Division, AVMA, 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Comments must be signed by the person submitting them to be considered.

Please send comments and story ideas to JAVMANews@avma.org.

Interested in veterinary anesthesia? This organization may be for you

New society created with all veterinary professionals in mind

Story and photo by Scott Nolen

The North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society was created with every member of the veterinary team in mind, regardless of whether they work at a teaching hospital or a general practice.

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

North American veterinary professionals who want to know more about anesthesia and analgesia but don't plan on specializing in the field now have a home: the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society.

The new nonprofit organization was established through a partnership between the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia. The two groups saw a need to elevate standards of care and practice for veterinary anesthesia and analgesia, as well as support those providing anesthesia and analgesia to animal patients.

“There was a need to engage not just anesthesia specialists, but anyone involved in veterinary anesthesia to improve how we deliver anesthesia and analgesia to veterinary patients,” said Dr. Kris Kruse, a diplomate of the ACVAA and NAVAS president. “We recognized a desire among veterinary professionals for a centralized resource that could provide access to information needed for them to advance anesthesia care in their particular settings.”

The NAVAS mission is akin to that of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists, which partners with the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Given the common missions, the NAVAS and the AVA have mutually agreed to share information and opportunities to promote anesthesia care globally.

The society debuted last September at the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium in Washington, D.C. In addition to members of the ACVAA and the AVTAA, who receive membership in the society, the NAVAS has grown to roughly 60 members who aren't affiliated with either organization.

Dr. Khursheed Mama, an ACVAA diplomate and founding member of the society, described the NAVAS vision as one where all members of the veterinary community with an interest in anesthesia and analgesia come together to share information in an effort to maintain best practices that benefit animals entrusted to their care.

“Members of the veterinary and aligned professions will be able to look to NAVAS as a resource for education, research, and scientific progress in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia,” Dr. Mama said. “The partnership of ACVAA with AVTAA and other key stakeholders in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia creates a location for anyone in the profession to find expertise and guidance on scientifically based safe practice of veterinary anesthesia.”

“Moving forward,” she added, “NAVAS will continue to seek participation of members from other specialty colleges and organizations that have a significant role in providing anesthesia care to further the goal of improving veterinary anesthesia throughout North America.”

NAVAS members have access to an array of resources on the organization's website, mynavas.org, including a library, a calendar of continuing education events, and a forum for talking with colleagues. The website content is available to all members of NAVAS and, to a limited degree, nonmembers. It is intended to provide easily accessible and useful information for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students, and industry partners, explained Jody Nugent-Deal, a registered veterinary technician and AVTAA liaison to the NAVAS board.

As Nugent-Deal explained, the NAVAS was created with every member of the veterinary team in mind, regardless of whether they work at a teaching hospital or a general practice. “Anesthesia and analgesia are performed every day in every type of practice, and these are areas where we can always be improving, especially now that advanced procedures are becoming more common,” she said.

NAVTA CONNECTS WITH ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT PROVIDER

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America and the AVMA have reached an agreement with an association management company to handle day-to-day operations for the veterinary technicians’ group.

Professional Management Associates will provide administrative, membership, and other management services for NAVTA, effective Nov. 4. The NAVTA executive board will continue to focus on the vision of the association.

As part of the PMA team, Phillip Russo will serve as NAVTA's executive director. Russo, a certified association executive, will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day management of the association as well as provide skills needed to grow the association as directed by the board of directors, according to a NAVTA Facebook post.

“NAVTA is excited for this next phase of growth. With the addition of PMA to our team, NAVTA is poised to continue its mission of advancing veterinary nursing and technology,” said NAVTA President Erin Spencer in a press release. “This partnership ensures NAVTA's ability to remain a sustainable association and maintain its leadership role in the veterinary technology profession.”

Heather O'Steen, PMA's co-managing partner, said in the release that her organization looks forward to working with NAVTA's leadership to advance NAVTA's mission, support the growth of the association, and implement the association's strategic goals. PMA provides similar services to organizations such as the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the New Jersey VMA.

The AVMA has provided management and other support services for NAVTA since July 2017. The AVMA will continue to support NAVTA to facilitate and maintain open lines of communication between the associations.

“Just as veterinarians and veterinary technicians benefit from each other's strengths and experience in the workplace, it's important for the AVMA and NAVTA to continue working together for the benefits this will provide the veterinary community, our clients and, ultimately, our patients,” said Dr. John Howe, president of the AVMA, in the release.

More pets, more debt?

Study looks at link between propensity for taking in animals, financial decision-making

By Kaitlyn Mattson

Denise Sorbet is a third-year veterinary student, and she has five animals. (Left photo, top to bottom) Theodore, Emma, and Rommel. (Right photo, left to right) Sherman Firefly and Eisenhower Danger (or Ike)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

Early research shows a potential link between the number of pets a veterinary student has and that student's financial behavior and outcomes.

A small study found a statistically significant correlation between educational debt and the number of pets veterinary students reported taking care of. Students with nine pets accumulated over $70,000 more debt during veterinary college than did students who had no pets while attending veterinary college, according to research presented by Bridgette Bain, PhD, during the AVMA Economic Summit, Oct. 22-23, 2019, in Rosemont, Illinois. However, only 0.2% of responding students had nine pets.

“How many animals have you been financially responsible for during your matriculation during veterinary school?” was a question included in the 2019 AVMA Senior Survey, which gathers information from fourth-year veterinary students prior to graduation.

The data show that over half of responding students had one or two pets while attending veterinary college, and these students accumulated between $140,000 and about $155,000 in educational debt during that time.

“I don't think necessarily that more pets translate into more debt, but I think this may be a proxy for financial decision-making and overall financial behavior,” said Dr. Bain, associate director of analytics in the AVMA Veterinary Economics Division. “This is a preliminary analysis, so we have a lot more work to do in terms of understanding this relationship.”

Jessi Coryell, a third-year student at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and a Student AVMA delegate, knows that her pets contribute to her overall debt. Her two dogs have required some dental work, and she said she has used her student loans to pay for veterinary care before. Coryell is an in-state student and is also earning her Master's in Public Health. Her total student loan debt is $177,768.46, which includes some of her undergraduate debt. Coryell still has to take out loans for spring semester, as well as the full calendar year of clinics.

“It's unfortunate,” Coryell said. “I'm not able to work enough to help supplement, so I would definitely say it's financially an issue. … I definitely have to prioritize and put them (my pets) at the top of my list.”

Beyond the financial strain, she said the time commitment her four pets require is also hard to balance with her school work. Coryell points to her partner's help as being one of the reasons she can do it.

Coryell said her class has just started doing some live surgeries on shelter animals, and she has noticed her fellow students adopting the animals they do surgery on.

“As veterinary students, our first instinct is to take care of an animal that needs additional care or that we feel someone else might not be able to adequately care for, and generally those are going to be the animals that are more expensive,” Coryell said. “So, I think it is just a matter of being mindful of those decisions and not necessarily saying that they should or shouldn't. … Just be educated on the decisions that you're making.”

Coryell said she has learned a lot about making financially intelligent decisions while being involved in the Veterinary Business Management Association chapter at Minnesota.

Not all veterinary students agree that pets have an impact on their debt, including Denise Sorbet, a third-year veterinary student at the Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine in Glendale, Arizona, who has five animals.

“I don't think having pets contributes to my overall debt,” Sorbet said. “My husband and I are pretty good about saving. … I have been very fortunate, knock on wood, that my animals have been pretty healthy other than a few problems.”

Despite that, Sorbet said she is worried about the overall cost of veterinary services. She has insurance for one of her dogs and is a part of the Purina for Professionals program, which offers low-cost Purina products for animals.

Dr. Bain said there is more analysis to be done in this area. She plans to continue this line of research in 2020.

“Another question we have is, do you have a budget? Is there a relationship between the number of pets students take care of and whether they have a personal budget or not?” she asked. “That would lend itself to our hypothesis that this is a proxy for financial behavior.”

ADOPTION AND ARREARS

HOW MANY ANIMALS HAVE YOU BEEN FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DURING YOUR MATRICULATION DURING VETERINARY SCHOOL?

“How many animals have you been financially responsible for during your matriculation during veterinary school?” was a question included in the 2019 AVMA Senior Survey.

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

HOD to deliberate on declawing

AVMA House of Delegates also to consider microchips, cribbing, use of technology

By Katie Burns

Last year, New York became the first state to outlaw cat declawing. Under a proposed new version of the AVMA policy on declawing of cats, the AVMA would discourage onychectomy while respecting veterinarians’ professional judgment on whether to perform the procedure.

The AVMA House of Delegates will deliberate on the policy during its regular winter session, Jan. 10-11 in Chicago. The HOD also will consider revisions to the Association's policy on microchip identification and new policies on cribbing in horses and the use of technology in veterinary medicine.

DECLAWING POLICY

The new version of the policy on declawing would simplify the AVMA's position on the procedure. Additional information would remain available at avma.org/declaw. According to background materials, “Great care was taken to balance the fact that elective onychectomy does not directly benefit the cat and the reality that there are rare circumstances where declawing may be a valid option after alternative interventions have failed.”

Also according to background, “The language of the revised policy is more consistent with the existing policies of the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners without opposing the procedure.” Representatives of AAHA and the AAFP were members of an AVMA Animal Welfare Committee subcommittee that performed the initial review of the AVMA policy.

The proposed AVMA policy reads as follows:

Declawing of Domestic Cats

The AVMA discourages the declawing (onychectomy) of cats as an elective procedure and supports non-surgical alternatives to the procedure. However, the AVMA respects the veterinarian's right to use professional judgment when deciding how to best protect their individual patients’ health and welfare. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the veterinarian to counsel the owner about the natural scratching behavior of cats, the alternatives to surgery, as well as the details of the procedure itself and subsequent potential complications (e.g. surgical, behavioral, maladaptive pain). Onychectomy is a surgical amputation and if performed, multi-modal perioperative pain management must be utilized.

OTHER POLICIES

The revised policy on microchips would return to the basics, leaving detailed discussion for the AVMA website at avma.org/microchip. The proposal is to rename the policy from “Microchips: The Objectives and Key Elements Needed for Effective Electronic Identification of Companion Dogs, Cats, Other Small Mammals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians and Equids” to “Microchip Identification of Companion Animals and Equids.”

According to background materials, the new version of the policy would no longer dictate the precise situations, frequency, or procedure for microchip scanning, which could conflict with state laws regarding property ownership.

The AVMA would condemn the placement of hog rings or other devices around the teeth to prevent cribbing in horses under the proposed new policy on “Management of Cribbing in Horses.” Per the proposed policy, “These devices are detrimental to the welfare and health of the horse due to the potential to cause persistent pain, damage to the gingiva, periodontal disease and abrasive wear to adjacent teeth.”

The new policy on “Use of Technology in Veterinary Medicine” would combine two policies on technology: “Use of Technology, Including Biotechnology, in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Agriculture” and “Use of Innovative Technologies in Development of Drugs, Vaccines and Diagnostic Modalities.”

LEGISLATION WOULD CREATE ONE-HEALTH RESPONSE TO OUTBREAKS

Members of the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee lobbied Congress in October 2019 to support a bipartisan bill that would require federal agencies to adopt a one-health approach when responding to zoonotic disease outbreaks.

The Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act of 2019 would mandate that the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture oversee the creation of a national one-health framework for coordinating federal activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to zoonotic disease emergencies.

“Diseases like rabies, salmonella, West Nile Virus, and avian flu are all examples of diseases that are seen in animals before humans and can be fatal in both,” said Rep. Kurt Schrader, one of three veterinarians currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, in a July press release. “Improving coordination and communication between veterinarians who work with animals every day and federal agencies who can respond to health outbreaks would no doubt have lifesaving consequences.”

Dr. Schrader, a Democrat from Oregon, introduced the House bill in July along with fellow veterinarian Rep. Ted Yoho, a Republican from Florida.

“Coordination between government agencies is essential to address, analyze, and eliminate zoonotic outbreaks,” Dr. Yoho said in the press release.

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that six out of 10 infectious diseases were seen in animals before humans. The legislation would improve coordination between veterinarians and physicians by requiring HHS and the USDA to implement a one-health model.

Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, and Sen. Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana, introduced their version of the bill in the U.S. Senate in June.

“Minnesota was hit by an avian flu outbreak a few years back, and since then I've talked with Minnesotans about how we can work to prevent future outbreaks because they take a real toll on families and the economy,” said Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee, in a June press release.

“I pushed adopting a ‘one health’ approach while I served as Lieutenant Governor, and now I'm continuing that work in the Senate,” she continued. “We need to recognize the connection between human, animal and environmental health so preparedness efforts meet the needs of all people, all ages, and all communities.”

The Infectious Diseases Society of America has endorsed the Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act, as have the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

“Humans, animals, and the environment interact more than ever before, and a One Health approach is necessary to develop effective solutions to many infectious disease threats,” said Cindy Sears, MD, immediate past president of the IDSA, in a statement.

Researchers hope for blood-based canine cancer test in 2020

Company backing the technology struggles amid push for test validation

By Greg Cima

Sample processing by a Volition employee. The company has partnered with Texas A&M University to create a blood-based cancer screening test. (Courtesy of VolitionRx)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

A Texas A&M University researcher said a blood-based cancer screening test may be available for use in dogs this year.

But the company behind the technology, VolitionRx, warned in November that it was low on cash, had little income, and needed more money to avoid closing.

The proposed test depends on detecting elevated concentrations of nucleosomes, cell-free DNA fragments that circulate in blood. Dr. Heather Wilson-Robles, who is leading the research at Texas A&M, said the amount of nucleosomes in blood rise with inflammation, immune responses, and certain types of cancers.

Nucleosomes can be inert or functional, Dr. Wilson-Robles said. Many come from dead cells, especially neutrophils and other short-lived blood cells. Others defend the body by trapping bacteria, interacting with immune cell receptors, or regulating cell replication and DNA repair.

In a healthy animal, white blood cells secrete most of the nucleosomes present in blood, she said. But cancer cells also can release them, causing spikes in the volume of specific DNA fragments.

Dr. Wilson-Robles, an associate professor and chair of comparative oncology in the Small Animal Clinical Sciences Department at TAMU's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, hopes her research can show consistency among the spikes. As the product develops, test kits based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays could give veterinarians results within an hour.

“So, you come in for your geriatric annual evaluation, and the lab suggests a spike,” she said. “Maybe we recommend doing additional diagnostics, and maybe you can find that bladder tumor that we didn't know they had.”

Dr. Wilson-Robles said in November it was too early to describe the sensitivity of the test. But she hopes veterinarians can use the technology in-house to screen seemingly healthy dogs or monitor dogs in remission, which are included in her team's studies.

She thinks her team can validate the assay in the first half of 2020 to create a veterinary-use screening test for dogs and gain approval from the Department of Agriculture, which regulates veterinary biologics. She anticipates that the test could be available in 2020.

Texas A&M agreed to conduct the research in exchange for a 12.5% stake in Volition's veterinary products, according to company information. Most of Volition's work focuses on cancers common in humans, such as colorectal, lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.

In Volition's filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the third quarter of 2019—published in November for the period ending Sept. 30—Volition executives indicated the company was losing money, creating doubt whether it could survive another year without more income, loans, or investments. Volition had its first product revenue that quarter, when it started selling research use-only screening kits and analyzing diagnostic samples.

Along with stock purchases, a grant, and a loan, that income helped Volition finish the quarter with about $20 million in cash or equivalents, up from $18.5 million three months earlier. The company has had $86 million in losses since its inception, the filing states.

Volition's SEC filing from November indicates the company plans to launch its human medicine products in Europe and Asia, followed by the U.S. and other regions. It also notes the trials in veterinary medicine and efforts to enter that market.

The report says the U.S. has the world's largest veterinary market and has a well-defined regulatory pathway for veterinary diagnostics through the Department of Agriculture, whiche requires fewer and smaller clinical studies than the Food and Drug Administration process for human-use diagnostics.

“This generally allows a much faster route to revenue for veterinary products as compared to human products,” the report states.

RULE EXTENDS OVERTIME PAY TO MORE WORKERS

By Kaitlyn Mattson

Veterinary practices may be affected by a federal rule that extends overtime pay requirements to workers making a salary of less than $35,568 per year.

The U.S. Department of Labor rule went into effect Jan. 1, raising the earnings threshold needed to exempt executive, administrative, or professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act overtime pay requirements.

The changes will make 1.3 million workers eligible for overtime pay, according to the Department of Labor. The overtime rule requires that an employer pay at least 1.5 times nonexempt workers’ regular pay for any hours worked over a 40-hour workweek.

Banfield Pet Hospital, the biggest chain of animal hospitals in the U.S., declined to comment. The American Animal Hospital Association and the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association did not respond to requests for comment by press time in late November.

In 2016, the Department of Labor proposed an update to the overtime rule that would have raised the salary cutoff to $47,476 per year for employees to be exempt from overtime pay, but a federal judge in Texas blocked the rule before it could take effect. The last update was in 2004, then putting the threshold for workers to qualify for time and a half at $23,476. In 2019, the Department of Labor announced a final rule raising the threshold to $35,568, effective this year.

In the final rule, the Department of Labor also reaffirmed its intent to update the earnings threshold more regularly in the future.

AAHA UPDATES CANINE LIFE STAGE GUIDELINES

No two dogs are alike, and their veterinary care should be as individualized as they are.

Veterinary teams should consider each dog's age and lifestyle factors when making recommendations on care, according to the American Animal Hospital Association. On Nov. 6, AAHA released the 2019 Canine Life Stage Guidelines, an update and extension of the 2012 edition.

According to the abstract: “A noteworthy change from the earlier guidelines is the division of the dog's lifespan into five stages (puppy, young adult, mature adult, senior, and end of life) instead of the previous six. This simplified grouping is consistent with how pet owners generally perceive their dog's maturation and aging process and provides a readily understood basis for an evolving, lifelong healthcare strategy.”

The guidelines recommend that the following 10 health-related factors be evaluated at each of the first four canine life stages: lifestyle effect on the patient's safety, zoonotic and human safety risk, behavior, nutrition, parasite control, vaccination, dental health, reproduction, breed-specific conditions, and a baseline diagnostic profile.

Specific objectives of the guidelines include the following:

• Broadening the focus on the individualized approach to the veterinary visit.
• Emphasizing preventive health care strategies and recommendations based on age, size, lifestyle, and breed of the dog.
• Providing a framework and outline on focused areas of health care that are important during the maturation pathway at each canine life stage.
• Providing resources and relevant information for practice teams to enable them to develop an individualized preventive health care plan for each dog.
• Providing information and communication strategies to make compliance easy by facilitating adherence to recommendations that protect canine and human health.

Resources include checklists for discussion during veterinary visits at each life stage, a chart for body and muscle condition scoring, recommendations for when to spay or neuter a dog, and a canine lifestyle assessment form.

The 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines are available in the November/December issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association and online at aaha.org/caninelifestage along with resources.

PIG EAR TREAT-LINKED SALMONELLA SICKENED 150 PLUS

By Greg Cima

A Salmonella outbreak linked to pig ear treats appears to be over, federal health authorities said.

A Food and Drug Administration notice issued Oct. 30, 2019, indicates the treats likely sickened at least 154 people and sent 35 of them to hospitals. Three companies issued recalls of treats imported from Argentina, Brazil, and Columbia.

Investigators found seven Salmonella serotypes, some of them resistant to multiple antimicrobials.

“If you choose to feed pig ear pet treats, you should exercise caution and practice good hygiene to prevent human exposure by: monitoring your pet while they have the treat, picking up the treat when they are done with it, keeping treats away from small children, cleaning the areas the treat contacted, washing hands, and not allowing your pet to lick you, your family members, or surfaces in your home,” the FDA notice states.

Officials with the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state governments investigated the outbreak.

Pet Supplies Plus, Lennox Intl, and Dog Goods USA issued recalls for pig ear products in July and August because of the outbreak. FDA officials said Brutus & Barnaby and TDBBS also issued recalls of their pig ear products in August and September after positive test results for Salmonella, although those products were unconnected with the outbreak. Hollywood Feed also issued a recall of pig ear products sourced from Dog Goods USA after positive tests for Salmonella.

“FDA reminds pig ear pet treat retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of their responsibility to ensure that they are sourcing, producing, distributing, and selling a safe product,” the FDA update states.

FDA officials maintain a list of imported pig ear treats and other pet treats that should be seized at ports because of a history of Salmonella contamination, and they added pig ear products from five suppliers to the list between Aug. 22 and Nov. 1, 2019. Those companies are located in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, and Germany.

The affected companies need to provide laboratory-backed analyses that their products are free of Salmonella to secure their release.

The list started with an alert issued in 1999 connected with pig ear dog treats made in Canada. As of early November, that list included products from 90 firms in 23 countries.

NEW LISTINGS IN AVMA ANIMAL HEALTH STUDIES DATABASE

Below are some of the new listings of veterinary clinical studies in the AVMA Animal Health Studies Database. Information about participation in the studies is available at avma.org/findvetstudies.

• AAHSD005041: “Promote salivary gland regeneration using therapeutic delivery of cevimeline,” Colorado State University.
• AAHSD005042: “Study to compare different imaging methods (MRI, CT, and PET/CT) for diagnosis and staging of canine insulinoma,” Colorado State University.
• AAHSD005044: “Rapamycin tolerability and anti-tumor activity in dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma,” Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn, Massachusetts, and Port City Veterinary Referral Hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
• AAHSD005045: “Sorafenib pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and anti-tumor activity in solid tumors in dogs,” Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn, Massachusetts, and Port City Veterinary Referral Hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
• AAHSD005051: “Evaluation of flash proton radiation therapy in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma,” University of Pennsylvania.
• AAHSD005052: “Effect of a novel diet on the progression of early mitral valve disease in dogs,” University of Pennsylvania.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR NEW JERSEY STUDENTS

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation, in partnership with the Harold Wetterberg Foundation, is once again awarding scholarships to current or former residents of New Jersey who are pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.

Applicants must be second-or third-year veterinary students or students enrolled in postgraduate education in veterinary medicine, have graduated from a New Jersey high school, and have had a 3.0 GPA or higher at their veterinary school and undergraduate school. Preference is given to students pursuing dual degrees and those who have graduated from or attended a university in New Jersey.

Award amounts range from $5,000-$15,000 to the winners; previous recipients are eligible to apply. The deadline for this scholarship program is March 15, and further information can be found at avmf.org/programs/student-scholarships.

For more information on any of the scholarships, contact Patti Gillespie, AVMF manager of programs and operations. She can be reached by email at PGillespie@avma.org or by phone at 847-285-6709.

USDA CANCELS ANOTHER PLAN TO TRACK CATTLE WITH RFID DEVICES

By Greg Cima

Department of Agriculture officials revoked a plan to replace visual tags with radio-frequency tracking for cattle moving interstate.

USDA Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service officials announced in April that cattle and bison would need radio-frequency tracking tags to cross state lines by January 2023, with some exceptions. In October 2019, however, agency officials said they were revisiting those guidelines in light of livestock industry members’ comments.

The U.S. still needs robust abilities to track animals during disease outbreaks and meet expectations of domestic and foreign buyers, and APHIS will provide financial incentives to encourage use of radio-frequency identification devices, October's announcement states. But agency officials will study the issue before deciding whether to add any requirements.

The information published in April indicates that moving from simple metal identification tags to tags that allow electronic scanning and tracking is the most essential step in strengthening tracking abilities, giving animal health officials abilities to find animals and determine their travel histories in hours rather than weeks or months.

The plan published in April to require RFID tags would apply to all cattle and bison except for cattle moving to slaughter and beef cattle that are younger than 18 months old, provided those beef cattle were not going to exhibitions or recreation events.

Dr. K. Fred Gingrich, executive director of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, expects and hopes the transition is only delayed. Cattle veterinarians want a robust tracking system for cattle in the U.S., and electronic ID likely is the most efficient system.

APHIS officials had planned to stop issuing states and tribes metal identification tags, free of charge, at the end of 2019. Approved vendors could have made the tags through 2020.

Dr. Gingrich said removing that free option for official identification would have aided the transition to the USDA's RFID tags.

Dr. Gingrich said an electronic tracking system for cattle raises concerns about data confidentiality and cost, particularly in regard to which producers will bear the cost of the tags, depending when in the production cycle cattle need tags. But he noted that many producers, especially those running large dairies, already use radio-frequency tracking to manage their herds.

In February 2010, the agency canceled the voluntary National Animal Identification System after spending $120 million but securing participation from only 36% of food animal producers. The system, first announced by agency officials in 2003, encouraged farmers and ranchers to register their facilities and animals with APHIS and use scanners and readers to identify the animals where they were sold.

In 2013, APHIS officials began requiring identification for livestock crossing state or international lines but let states decide whether to accept ID methods such as branding and tattoos. That rule covers food animals as well as horses and other equids, and exceptions include cattle that cross state lines for grazing, animals shipped for custom slaughter, chicks moved from a hatchery, and most beef cattle younger than 18 months.

CALIFORNIA CURBS DEFERRED-INTEREST CREDIT FOR VETERINARY CARE

Later this year in California, providers of medical and veterinary care and their employees will be prohibited from arranging or establishing open-end credit or loans that include deferred-interest provisions. Patients and animal owners, however, will still be able to apply directly for deferred-interest financing from companies such as CareCredit.

The ban, which takes effect in July, is the result of legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2019 meant to protect consumers from unwittingly signing up for credit products that do not require interest payments during an introductory period but that still accrue interest at high rates during that introductory period.

Few consumers understand that if they fail to pay the entire balance during the introductory period or if they make a late payment, they end up with an interest charge that can be larger than the remaining balance, according to state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, who co-authored the law, and Jen Flory, a health policy advocate with Western Center on Law & Poverty.

“While third-party financing may have a place when patients need services they can't immediately afford, products with deferred interest clauses have no place in medical practice,” Mitchell and Flory wrote in a commentary for CalMatters, a nonprofit journalism venture covering the California state capital.

They wrote, “Providers shouldn't market high-interest, third-party credit in high-pressure situations when patients can't research options.”

In a statement, CareCredit said the company will continue helping Californians get the care they want for themselves, their families, and their pets.

“Thanks to the outpouring from consumers and veterinarians, together we were successful in modifying SB 639 to protect consumers’ continued use of CareCredit for pet care in California,” according to the statement.

“Under the new law, consumers will apply for CareCredit financing directly through their smartphones, computers, or laptops or via tablets in a veterinarian's practice,” the statement explained. “Californians will still be able to access the full benefits of CareCredit, including deferred interest financing, when receiving services through a participating veterinarian.”

Allergic to work

Veterinary professionals see pet allergies as hurdle, not barrier

Story by Kaitlyn Mattson

Illustrations by Bruno Monteiro

Dr. Jessica N. Graves didn't think about her allergies when she was growing up in Canada, but she started to do so when she moved to Illinois.

“I had an asthma attack when I was working with some pigs, but I didn't realize what was happening, and I didn't tell anyone because I was self-conscious,” said Dr. Graves, an associate veterinarian at Critter Care and Sandwich Veterinary Services in northern Illinois.

More than 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergies, and nearly 24 million have asthma, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Some veterinary professionals start their careers already allergic to animals, while others become allergic to their patients after entering the profession.

According to a 2009 study from the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Canada, about 38% of responding veterinarians reported developing an allergy during their career, and 41% said they altered the way they practiced in response to the allergy. The study used a questionnaire to examine exposure of veterinarians to occupational health hazards.

Animal-related allergies can include symptoms such as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, red and itchy eyes, nasal congestion, skin reactions such as hives, coughing, and other asthma-related problems including shortness of breath. And yet, these professionals persist in treating animals—despite the chronic symptoms and extensive treatments—to pursue what they say is their life's calling.

TESTING, TESTING

Dr. Graves, who graduated in 2005 from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, said her allergies weren't too bad while she was an undergraduate; she had a lot of colds, but she pushed through.

ALLERGY SYMPTOM CHECKER

Marc Meth, MD, a Los Angeles-based allergist, suggests veterinary professionals experiencing the following symptoms during or after handling an animal may consider seeing an allergist:

• Shortness of breath.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes.
• Skin irritation.
• Coughing or sore throat.
• Sneezing.

“It wasn't really bad until I started working out in a rural area. The colds started to happen more and last longer. I'd get sinus infections that would result in bronchitis,” Dr. Graves said.

A colleague suggested that she see an allergist for skin testing. Dr. Graves learned that she is allergic not only to cats, dogs, and horses but also grass, ragweed, mold, and dust mites. The allergist prescribed several medications, including an inhaler, antihistamines, nasal sprays, and an allergy shot once a week. When she began to improve, she was able to pare down the number of medications. Now, Dr. Graves only needs an allergy shot every three weeks.

“I haven't been sick for a year, which is a record for me,” she said.

In 2014, a study found that 36 out of 100 animal care workers tested positive on a skin prick test for animal allergen sensitization. The researchers from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran used 15 different mammal and bird allergens for the skin prick test.

Only 10% of the 50 control volunteers tested positive. The most common sensitization was to horses, canaries, and cattle.

“Animal workers are at high risk of occupational sensitization to animal allergens,” the study reported. “Veterinarians and final-year veterinary students showed the highest rate of sensitization to animal allergens.”

Research also shows that people who have allergies or asthma are predisposed to react to animal-related allergens. The Asthma and Allergies Foundation of America estimates that three in 10 people with allergies react to cats and dogs.

Dr. Kathryn Primm owns Applebrook Animal Hospital in Ooltewah, Tennessee, and she found out after she became a practicing veterinarian that she had animal allergies.

“When I look back, I probably had them before that,” Dr. Primm said. “Every spring in vet school, we would all be so excited to go out and ride horses and do stuff outside with animals, and I would get sick. I would get bronchitis. Every spring.”

Dr. Primm said she is coping with her allergies now, and she works closely with her allergist. She has discovered several proactive measures that keep her allergies in check, such as washing her hair daily or not riding horses.

“I know that I have to wash my hair every day when I've been in the practice because sleeping with hair that is full of dander, rolling around on my face and my pillow, will make me wake up feeling bad,” Dr. Primm said.

FINDING RELIEF

While people may experience sensitization from exposure to animal-related allergens, others may experience desensitization.

Marc Meth, MD, a Los Angeles-based allergist, said the possibility of being sensitized or desensitized by exposure depends on the person.

“That's the power of the immune system for you,” said Dr. Meth, who is also a board member of the Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology.

Research has shown that there might be a link between early exposure and allergies. Specifically, children who have early contact with pets are less likely to have animal-related allergy symptoms later in life, according to a 2002 study from the Institute for Risk Assessment at the Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Nearly 3,000 school-aged children and their parents completed a questionnaire that measured allergic symptoms.

While animal-related allergies can cause a range of issues for sufferers, several treatments exist.

“I would say first-line treatment is a steroid nasal spray and over-the-counter antihistamine,” Dr. Meth said. “I reserve allergy shots for three groups: people who don't like taking medication, people who the medication won't work well enough on, and people who want a more curative-type treatment for their allergy.”

Allergy immunotherapy is one of the most effective forms of allergy management, according to the ACAAI. Immunotherapy involves preparing an extract of the allergen or allergens, which is injected into the skin of the arm once a week to start and later once every two, three, or four weeks depending on the patient. The typical allergy immunotherapy duration is three to five years.

And now further preventive measures may be on the horizon. HypoPet AG, a spin-off company from the University of Zurich, released preclinical data in April 2019 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology for its cat allergy vaccine. HypoCat targets the major cat allergen, Fel d 1, and is supposed to lower the amount of allergen expressed by a cat. The company has not said when it anticipates the vaccine being approved, but indicated that it is moving ahead with registration studies and discussions with European and U.S regulators.

THE SNEAKY SNEEZE

Dr. Jennifer Hayes has considered getting allergy shots but hasn't yet. She tries to prevent allergic reactions by taking over-the-counter antihistamines, but sometimes those don't work, or she forgets to take them. In the clinic, Dr. Hayes makes an effort to avoid animals that are triggering.

“My co-worker does exotics, and a bird was brought back into our treatment area, and within five minutes, I started sneezing and sneezing, to the point where I couldn't stop,” she said.

Dr. Hayes has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 10 years and has noticed that her allergies, which included cats and dust mites when she was young, have gotten progressively worse. Dr. Hayes works at Colony Animal Hospital in Newport News, Virginia, and she has two dogs and one cat at home.

Dr. Jennifer Graves also has a dog and two cats at home. She has developed a few best practices that help her stay healthy, such as making sure her pets don't go into her bedroom, cleaning frequently, using an air purifier, never opening the windows, and changing the furnace filter frequently.

TIPS FOR MANAGING ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

For veterinary professionals with allergy-related symptoms, veterinarians with allergies believe the following lifestyle suggestions may prove helpful:

• See an allergist for a skin prick test.
• Work with an allergist to identify medications that may be helpful, such as over-the-counter antihistamines, prescription inhalers, nasal sprays, steroids, or immunotherapy shots.
• Practice general hygiene when handling animals.
• Avoid touching your face after handling animals that trigger symptoms.
• Install air purifiers at home and in the clinic.
• Vacuum and clean frequently.
• Prioritize time off, or rearrange your work schedule for more full days off.
• Keep personal pets away from your bedroom.
• Limit exposure to dander, and avoid animals that cause severe reactions.
• Let colleagues and staff know about your reactions to certain animals.
• If symptoms are severe enough, carry an epinephrine auto-injector at all times.

Dr. Graves said the practice where she works is always being cleaned, so she has no issues there, but she makes sure to have antihistamines around.

“With allergies, you want to prevent them from ramping up, you want to be prepared,” she said.

Dr. Graves suggests that negotiating for good medical insurance should be a top priority for veterinary professionals with allergies.

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP

Despite allergy symptoms, Dr. Kathryn Primm says she won't stop practicing.

“I can't imagine I would do anything else. I just have to find compromises. I can't work six days a week as I used to, or I'll be sick, and I won't be able to work at all,” she said. “So, I've had to change my schedule and find other ways that I can contribute and help animals that are not in the exam room.”

One way she does this is through speaking engagements. Dr. Primm recently got her certified veterinary practice manager certificate and she'll be speaking about practice management at the North American Veterinary Community's Veterinary Meeting & Expo in January.

Dr. Graves said there have been times she thought she should have chosen a career in botany, but she's allergic to most plants, too. She is optimistic about managing her allergies, though, and believes that people who want to be involved in veterinary medicine, even those who suffer from animal-related allergies, will find a way.

“It's a vocation,” Dr. Graves said. “Most people won't be dissuaded. I'm allergic to Illinois. If I was going to do something (for my allergies). I would have to move to Alaska or Antarctica. I'd have to live in a bubble. I can't avoid the environment and I can't avoid this profession. … Allergies are just another thing” to deal with.

People: HONOR ROLL MEMBERS INDUCTED

The following 824 AVMA members have been granted honor roll status beginning in 2020. These individuals have maintained membership in the Association for a period of 40 years or more and have reached the age of 70, or they have reached the age of 72 and have maintained continuous membership since graduation. As honor roll members, they will continue to receive the full benefits and privileges of membership while being exempt from the payment of dues.

ALABAMA

Walter L. Ash, Uriah

Harry W. Boothe, Auburn

Randy D. Britt, Birmingham

Jo A. Brown, Opelika

Jere F. Colley, Opelika

Thomas P. Dawkins, Birmingham

Tom V. Ellenburg, Arab

Thomas W. Fell Jr., Mobile

David H. Forston Sr., Phenix City

Charles M. Hendrix, Auburn

Robert D. Matthews, Montgomery

Perryman F. Mobley, Shorterville

Edward F. Murray, Pell City

Michael E. Newman, Decatur

Robert E. Okin, Columbiana

Charles T. Vaughan Jr., Livingston

George N. Westbrook, Montgomery

ALASKA

Daniel M. Mulcahy, Anchorage

ARIZONA

John J. Adkins, Mesa

Lyle W. Bartel, Tempe

Stephen P. Bishop, Phoenix

Bruce P. Bolen, Buckeye

Bernard N. Cohen, Tucson

Stephen C. Fisher, Paradise Valley

J.T. Gus, Tempe

Brett G. Hinsch, Tucson

Lorna L. Lanman, Sun City West

James V. Lytle, Wickenburg

Sandra Manfra-Marretta, Mesa

Robert J. Moore, Flagstaff

Thom E. Myers, Overgaard

L.H. Nelson, Tucson

Carl W. Oberg, Tucson

Kathryn A. Orr, Phoenix

Janis D. Potter, Nogales

Rodney L. Proper, Camp Verde

Paul S. Pullen, Tucson

Dean A. Rice, Chandler

Jack G. Sales, Scottsdale

Raymond J. Visco, Elgin

C.J. Visser, Scottsdale

Mary E. Wakimoto, Prescott

ARKANSAS

David F. Brown, Russellville

Gary W. France, Pea Ridge

Kenneth Leach, Siloam Springs

Thomas A. Lenarduzzi, Jacksonville

Robert E. McFarlin, Bonnerdale

Bobbie R. Moody, Ash Flat

Earl F. Smith, North Little Rock

CALIFORNIA

William P. Arnold, Scotts Valley

Richard L. Beck, Hemet

Albert M. Brajdich, Moreno Valley

David R. Casper, Aptos

John Condello, Westlake Village

Timothy E. Connor, Indian Wells

James R. Correa, Merced

Chris C. Cowing, Foster City

Eric W. Davis, Dixon

C.N. Demorest, Cambria

Craig P. Dietrich, Valencia

William D. Faust, North Highlands

Andrew J. Frey, Stockton

Edward A. Fries, Glendale

William M. Frizell, Oakland

John T. Gallagher, Danville

Milton K. Gee, Encinitas

Marliss J. Geissler, Elk

Stephen R. Gregg, Merced

James L. Grimes, Fullerton

Charlene Hagus, Fresno

Bill B. Hah, Upland

Patrick B. Hawes, Escalon

Marvin G. Helphrey, San Diego

Richard H. Herbert, Stockton

James S. Hookstra, Diamond Springs

David A. Jessup, Royal Oaks

Philip S. Kennedy, Van Nuys

Eric Kufuor-Mensah, Tustin

Anne LaBarre, Auburn

Timothy M. Lenehan, Escondido

Robert M. Linett, Brentwood

Beverly J. Loo, Pasadena

Alexis A. Lumsden, Riverside

Mark S. Madden, Mount Aukum

Wayne Marteney, Palmdale

Marlene C. Martin, Hercules

Donald R. Mayer, Watsonville

Lynn C. McEwan, Palmdale

Jay R. Moon, Sherman Oaks

Donald O. Morshead, Granada Hills

Nabil Nasre, San Juan Capistrano

Charles E. Ozanian, Ferndale

Joseph O. Pavlik, Temple City

Russell G. Peterson, Menlo Park

Camilo A. Rocha, Downey

Paul M. Salazar, Colusa

Steve O. Sallen, Ojai

N.D. Schnittker, Brentwood

Geraldine P. Schultz, Glendale

H.L. Shivaprasad, Tulare

John A. Silva, Paso Robles

Aubrey E. Sloan, Santa Paula

Nachhattar S. Sran, Clovis

Donna L. Stevens, Vista

Bhupinder Sud, Corona

Jay Sweeney, San Diego

Lee W. Thorne, Rocklin

Gayle C. Vial, Berkeley

Charles D. Warner, Healdsburg

Pamela T. Warner, Oakdale

Patricia L. White, Weed

Beth A. Wildermann, Boulder Creek

Pauline L. Wong, Davis

COLORADO

William Aaroe, Trinidad

Frederick M. Applehans, Denver

Cynthia L. Bauman, Longmont

Richard A. Bowen, Wellington

Bruce M. Bowman, Littleton

John C. Davis, La Veta

Stephen K. Durham, Fort Collins

Roberta J. Francis, Grand Junction

Dennis G. Frazee, La Junta

John C. Heideman, Grand Junction

William D. Kerns, Evergreen

Linda A. Leadbetter, Henderson

William W. McBeth, Wray

Robert W. Moak, Estes Park

Rodney A. Rosychuk, Fort Collins

David S. Schroeder, Pueblo

Dennis E. Smialek, Bennett

Ronald J. Streeter, Franktown

Anthony S. Turner, Fort Collins

William C. Tuthill, Colorado Springs

Mark A. Vandenberg, Norwood

Jeffrey Warren, Durango

Gene P. White Jr., Parker

Jerry V. White, Fort Collins

CONNECTICUT

Rocco J. Frank, Westport

Richard D. Mitchell, Newtown

Randall L. Murphy, Orange

Louis B. Pieper, Stratford

Marianne Willis, Fairfield

Sheldon Z. Yessenow, Trumbull

DELAWARE

Bernard L. Brown, Dover

Gregory S. Hammer, Dover

Patricia A. Woodie, Dover

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Peter S. Glassman, Washington

FLORIDA

Robert W. Ausherman, Jacksonville

Ralph E. Bailey, Venice

Kathleen P. Barrie, Odessa

James B. Brenneman, Port Charlotte

Roger M. Clemmons, Gainesville

David Dysert, Boynton Beach

Max G. Easom, Lakeland

Joseph A. Ertel, Lakeland

Randall G. Feld, Boynton Beach

Henry D. Ferris Jr., Naples

Thomas C. Finch, Fort Pierce

Thomas A. Fredenhagen, Jacksonville

David E. Freeman, Gainesville

Nola Z. Gedeon, Lakeland

Robert G. Gukich, Lake Wales

Kamil Y. Habib, Boynton Beach

Claudia Hagy, Venice

Charles P. Hall, Tallahassee

David H. Hancock, Spring Hill

Truman B. Harrell, Lakeland

Sharon M. Hopek, Stuart

Thomas A.A. Jackson, Miromar Lakes

Paul C. Jansson, Orlando

Douglas J. Lammers, Saint Augustine

James M. Losey II, Haines City

Mark T. Lowe, Lecanto

Guy R. Maxwell, Cocoa

John M. McDaniel, Pensacola

Raul M. Mendy, Fort Lauderdale

Kristan K. Meyerer, Titusville

Douglas Mindlin, Pompano Beach

Marilyn S. Moore, Spring Hill

Bernard S. Myers, Orlando

Gary H. Nelson, Fort Myers

Jeffrey D. Palgut, Panama City

Manuel J. Pepen,

Indian Harbour Beach

Michael D. Rhodes, Dade City

Todd W. Rieke, Hobe Sound

Karen M. Rossman, Inverness

Mary-Alice R. Salisbury, Sarasota

John H. Sameck, Gainesville

Eric Searcy, Saint Augustine

Paul A. Shaffer, Miami

George R. Smith, Miami

Richard E. Smith, Stuart

Robert J. Smith Jr., West Palm Beach

Michael K. Stevens, Port Orange

Steve St. John, Port Richey

Scott J. Swerdlin, Wellington

Richard S. Templeton, Miami

David A. Vanis, Edgewater

Leslie S. Wilner, Boca Raton

Edward P. Wollenman, Wellington

GEORGIA

Richard L. Berta, Newnan

Jonathan N. Chambers, Athens

James F. Davis, Gainesville

James F. Dawe, Watkinsville

Craig E. Greene, Athens

Mary B. Mahaffey, Watkinsville

William A. McCampbell, Demorest

Patrick C. McCaskey, Watkinsville

Joseph H. McKenzie, Savannah

Mushtaq A. Memon, Atlanta

James N. Moore, Athens

Henry O. Muller, Roswell

Ernest L. Myers, Rome

David E. Reeves, Watkinsville

Carol H. Rubin, Decatur

David K. Selleck, Newnan

Phyllis H. Sparling, Jasper

Richard B. Swenson, Lilburn

Carol A. Thompson, Austell

Thomas H. Wall, Bogart

HAWAII

Alan D. Kaufman, Kula

George M. Peavy, Captain Cook

Seeske D. Versluys, Keaau

IDAHO

Mike N. Burnum, Nampa

Kenneth B. Lancaster, Idaho Falls

Martin R. Lee, Jerome, Idaho

Phillip J. Volkman, Grangeville

ILLINOIS

Robert S. Archer, Wheaton

Gurdial S. Basran, Chicago

Marion L. Beeman, Bourbonnais

Susan K. Carey, New Lenox

James B. Cornelius, Willowbrook

John A. Coyne, Batavia

Kent Davis, Champaign

Clyde E. Dunphy, Pleasant Plains

David L. Etheridge, Woodstock

Stephen T. Hill, Decatur

Patricia A. Hoagland, Ottawa

Timothy E. Lesch, Belleville

Kay E. Lindsay, Monticello

Doyle W. Roser, Enfield

Gary D. Schlapp, Yorkville

Rebecca J. Schmidt, Libertyville

Joseph M. Scimeca, Carbondale

Michael P. Thomas, Tremont

Richard F. Tyler, Monroe Center

William R. VanAlstine Jr., Decatur

Craig D. Welbourne, Oak Forest

Glen R. Wittnam, Marion

Richard L. Zeller, Jacksonville

INDIANA

Charles A. Anderson, Monticello

Rachel B. Clark, Arcadia

Roger S. Colman, Newburgh

Michael A. Habel, Decatur

John A. Hageman, Monticello

Stephen Heckler, Lake Station

Lawrence A. Horstman,

West Lafayette

Philip A. Howell, Winchester

R. Steve Medlock, Bedford

Benny B. Moore, Salem

David Morgan, Greenwood

Robert M. Painter, Indianapolis

Stephen R. Pilgrim, Wabash

William R. Schoene, Cannelton

Franklin A. Terrell, Kentland

James A. Vaught, Lafayette

Paul W. Webb, Millersburg

IOWA

Cheryl Clark, Ames

Robert F. Davis, Solon

John L. Feldman, Jewell

Ronald W. Griffith, Ames

Donald C. Hansen, Shelby

Gerald D. Judkins, Milo

Roy C. Kipper, Grimes

Dennis D. Meester, La Porte City

Thomas W. Pease, Lamoni

Charles E. Peddicord, Keystone

Jan K. Shearer, Ames

Richard C. Stribe, Webster City

James R. Thompson, Huxley

Stanley D. Wagner, Ames

Dennis D. Woodruff, Carlisle

KANSAS

Steve E. Abrams, Arkansas City

James H. Allen, Parsons

Ronald K. Cott, Leawood

Edward L. Epp, Independence

Dana L. Fertig, Lawrence

R.S. Garten, Medicine Lodge

Dale E. Holterman, Scott City

Nancy K. Jaax, Lenexa

John R. Johnson, Winfield

Kent A. Law, Abilene

Richard A. Mohney, Wichita

Gerald D. Schmidt, Rolla

Auddie J. Sharp, Merriam

David D. Simmons, Salina

Richard D. Smith, Kansas City

Andrew W. Spisak, Wellsville

Daniel K. Thompson, Wichita

Vincent Traffas, Manhattan

Arne Zislin, Leawood

KENTUCKY

Charles W. Black, Princeton

Fred G. Brammell, Richmond

Donald W. Bryant, Owensboro

Desales M. Cavey, Paris

Byron R. Dozier, Paint Lick

Jerry W. Genton, Madisonville

Chuen B. Hong, Lexington

William C. McCaw Sr., Nicholasville

Pat W. Mysinger, Scottsville

Charles R. Nelson, Harrodsburg

Thomas J. Rainey, La Grange

Orville W. Smith, Russellville

George F. Steedly, Providence

Sabra St. Germain, Lebanon

Paul A. Walter, Madisonville

Pamela S. Williams, Shepherdsville

LOUISIANA

Ronald J. English, Lafayette

Thomas A. Greene, Livonia

Charlie E. Jones Jr., Leesville

Richard A. Lefebvre, Monroe

Larry D. McCaskill, Oscar

Ward C. Pevey Jr., Hammond

V.H. Price Jr., Shreveport

Craig J. Schwartz, Bossier City

Patrick Thistlethwaite, Plaquemine

MAINE

Thomas G. Diffell, Corinth

John G. Flood, Portland

Carl F. Miller, Steuben

Donald L. Rowe, Winslow

Dennis A. Ruksznis, Dover-Foxcroft

Margaret D. Totten, West Bath

MARYLAND

James M. Bryant, Mount Airy

Scott F. Cosenza, La Plata

Jerry K. Davis, Crownsville

Louis J. DeTolla, Baltimore

William R. Elkins, Bethesda

Kenneth B. Garber, Annapolis

Lawrence J. Giebel, Gaithersburg

Ronald W. Kettenacker, Abingdon

Javaid Manzoor, Potomac

Bonnie J. Miller, Hampstead

John V. Moffa, Bel Air

Neal B. Neuman, Waldorf

Arthur L. Pineau, Glyndon

Patricia B. Pineau, Glyndon

Marian I. Siegel, Reisterstown

Charles R. Stillion, California

J.M. Tibbs, District Heights

Robert L. Toal, Glen Arm

Robert B. Ziemer, Laurel

MASSACHUSETTS

Albert G. Andersen,

Newton Lower Falls

Gregory P. Baran, Groton

Michele B. Belisle, Canton

Earl M. Borash, Peabody

Patrick M. Cotter, Gill

John F. D'Esopo, Norwell

David A. Dunn, Lynn

Larry L. Foresman, Burlington

Arthur B. Freedman, Salem

Mohsen M. Gomaa, Rehoboth

Willard J. Gould, Mattapoisett

Russell A. Hansen, Northampton

Sarah D. Hicks, Lincoln

Betty S. Johnston, Acton

Robert G. Kyrka, Holliston

Anne L. Lewis, Gloucester

Michael B. McDonnell, Mashpee

Alan S. Morris, Bedford

Martin F. Nugent, Woburn

Rodney W. Poling, Dover

Chejerla R. Reddy, Somerset

Bruce R. Weiner, Waltham

MICHIGAN

N.K. Ames, Okemos

Jann A. Angell, East Lansing

Bruce M. Baker, Royal Oak

Robert M. Begin, South Lyon

James R. Bradford, Royal Oak

David E. Burke, Traverse City

Carla L. Carleton, Mason

David S. Couturier, Owosso

Bruce C. Cozzens, Maple City

Jeffrey N. Dizik, Lincoln Park

Philip Englehardt, Bay City

Jean A. Gaymer, Central Lake

Clinton A. Groover, Pickford

Bruce W. Harlton, Suttons Bay

Karen L. Hrapkiewicz,

Dearborn Heights

Cody L. Jones, Commerce Township

Terry Ryan Kane, Ann Arbor

John B. Kaneene, East Lansing

Kenneth M. Kornheiser, Plainwell

Rodney L. Pierson, Davison

David P. Routson, Dundee

Harry D. Sorensen, New Buffalo

Paul E. Taylor, Ottawa Lake

Rita M. Taylor, Davison

Richard C. Tully, Clarkston

Philip VanVranken, Battle Creek

David J. Whitten, Farmington Hills

James R. Wright, Birmingham

MINNESOTA

Lynn H. Aggen, Harmony

Paul L. Anderson, Chaska

Susan W. Brewer, Stillwater

Gregory R. Cutlan, Woodbury

David A. Gilgenbach, Otsego

Dean E. Hawkinson, Howard Lake

Kent K. Kane, Minneapolis

Anthony L. Kiorpes, Bloomington

Beverly L. Knapp, Robbinsdale

Daniel E. Lebeda, Minnetonka

William C. Mitchell, Big Lake

Joan W. Moore, Burnsville

Michael R. Pedersen, Cannon Falls

Fred W. Pomeroy, Saint Paul

William M. Rose, Perham

David Wetherill, Saint Paul

Steven J. Wilcox, Saint Cloud

MISSISSIPPI

Philip A. Bushby, Starkville

Wallace O. Carson, Columbia

E.P. Gomez Sanchez, Madison

Edward F. Kennedy, Ridgeland

Robert K. Kennedy, Mendenhall

John K. Mayfield, Hattiesburg

Michael McCoy, Escatawpa

David C. Newell, Meridian

Kenneth L. Quick, Kosciusko

Nathaniel B. Royals, Purvis

Michael J. Walker, Forest

Russell S. Walker, Pascagoula

MISSOURI

William J. Armon Jr., Ballwin

Everett Aronson, Columbia

James C. Crago, Jefferson City

Raymond L. Early, Herculaneum

David E. Fenton, Columbia

Charles J. Germeroth, Ozark

Robert E. Graves, Boonville

Wayne R. Hause, Saint Louis

Larry L. Hawkins, Carrollton

Joseph N. Howard, Liberty

Gayle C. Johnson, Columbia

David H. Moore, Kirksville

Gregory A. Popp, Jefferson City

Lynn T. Posenke, Springfield

James E. Schmittel, Wright City

Linda J. Scorse, Joplin

Carter B. Smith, Ellisville

John L. Warmbrodt, Villa Ridge

William R. Wooden, Anderson

MONTANA

Edward E. Jorden, Pryor

Greg S. Lovgren, Bozeman

David P. Madsen, Dillon

Ben S. Shomper, Livingston

Donald E. Smith, Clyde Park

NEBRASKA

Donald D. Bend, Omaha

John H. Claus, Columbus

Dale M. Grotelueschen, Harvard

Linda L. Hall-Jacobson, Gretna

Stewart Hartwell, Oakland

Delbert M. Heftie, Wisner

James Madsen, Minden

Thomas H. Noffsinger, Benkelman

William O. Rishel, Plattsmouth

Dennis F. Smith, Aurora

Lex E. Thompson, Imperial

NEVADA

William M. Bannister, Sparks

Gary D. Weddle, Henderson

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Johanna Kaufman, Exeter

Thomas M. McGrath, Laconia

Meryl D. Meloy, Pembroke

Thomas A. Moon, Rochester

Cheryl J. Schunk, Amherst

Kenneth L. Schunk, Bedford

Dean B. Wallace, Kingston

NEW JERSEY

Dale R. Bodman, Forked River

Warren M. Davis, Morris Plains

Patricia S. Farrell, Layton

Kenneth H. Fein, South Plainfield

Philip F. Frezzo, Bayonne

Robert P. Gordon, Oakland

Gerald M. Greco, Somerdale

Kenneth Grossman, Absecon

Robert L. Harris, Hillsborough

Jeffrey C. Izzo, Tinton Falls

Julia A. Johnson, Bernardsville

Albert McCullen, Denville

Barbara J. McNeill, Chesterfield

Michaele A. Mikovsky, Lawrenceville

Kumariah Y. Moorthy, Bedminster

Robert L. Newman, Vineland

Lois C. Rich, Pennington

Raymond N. Smith, Oceanport

Donald W. Stremme, Cape May Beach

Beryl C. Taylor, Cream Ridge

Christopher Thacher, Holmdel

Marilyn B. Weber, Belmar

Margaret F. Yeaw, Point Pleasant

NEW MEXICO

Richard G. Bolton, Albuquerque

Gregory B. Heisey, Alamogordo

Mary H. Hume, Albuquerque

John W. Lee, Magdalena

Anne C. Meininger, Bernalillo

Ben S. Nelson, Las Vegas

Michael H. Riegger, Albuquerque

William J. Schumacher, Las Cruces

Rodney F. Taylor, Edgewood

William H. Wheir, Santa Fe

NEW YORK

Peter J. Bluvas, Amsterdam

Betsy R. Bond, New York

Joseph B. Bruzgul, Buffalo

Wende Bush, Alfred Station

Robert L. Cardinali, Mount Sinai

John D. Cogar, Saranac Lake

David A. Dirnberger, Tonawanda

Nicholas L. DiRusso, Eastchester

Philip R. Fox, New York

Susan F. Genecco, Canandaigua

Margaret A. Gioseffi, Vernon

Samuel Johnson, Brooklyn

Edward S. Kepner, New York

Michael D. Kryger, Montgomery

Dale E. Kuhn, Jamesport

Franklin E. Latson, Buffalo

James M. Lawless,

Cornwall on Hudson

Stuart C. Lyman, Delmar

James A. Mack, Hague

Kathleen A. Marquardt, Deansboro

Walter K. McCarthy, Niagara Falls

Carolyn McMaster, Ithaca

Joseph T. McQuade, Bronxville

Henry M. Naef, East Greenbush

David L. Ouart, Fishkill

Inocencio M. Perez Jr., Scarsdale

Jeanne M. Ramsey, Groton

Thomas P. Rothwell, Clinton

John T. Ryer, Binghamton

Janet M. Scarlett, Freeville

Karel A. Schat, Ithaca

William A. Seleen, Bemus Point

Susan D. Siegel, Kerhonkson

Stuart B. Stevens, Saranac Lake

Alan M. Tausz, Slaterville Springs

Julius M. Tepper, Manorville

Robert Wildermann, Warrensburg

Douglas K. Wyler, Hempstead

NORTH CAROLINA

David H. Altman, Beaufort

Katherine T. Armstrong, Monroe

David R. Bird, Morehead City

Jack D. Brown Sr., Fayetteville

Richard L. Cotton, Raleigh

John M. Cullen, Chapel Hill

Arthur L. Daun, Southport

J.A. Dozier, Charlotte

James A. Gardner, Salisbury

Richard J. Ghiloni, Raleigh

Arthur R. Hauser, Mount Airy

Toby W. Hudson, Mooresville

Karen V. Karaffa, Hamptonville

Pamela B. Luther, Raleigh

Allen T. Maiolo, Columbus

Judith R. Rozzell, Old Fort

Richard Seader, Durham

James I. Smith, Snow Hill

Elizabeth A. Stone, Cary

Lloyd P. Tate, Southern Pines

David F. Thompson, Asheville

Michael D. Whitacre, Morrisville

NORTH DAKOTA

Richard L. Bowman, Rhame

Gerald P. Kitto, McClusky

John D. Rowe, Dickinson

Donald L. Safratowich, Hettinger

OHIO

David W. Ballinger, Hartville

Linda D. Barnett, Waverly

Joanne E. Blaha, Olmsted Falls

Surinder S. Chauhan, Cleveland

Dennis J. Chew, Columbus

Nancy A. Decker, Northfield

Anthony J. Evangelista, Painesville

Verne J. Fairhurst, Cincinnati

William E. Fling, Hillsboro

James R. Galvin, Waverly

Timothy L. Hayes, Cambridge

Dennis L. Hodson, Farmersville

Timothy A. Kneen, Youngstown

David S. Kocher, Fairborn

Clayton C. Kowar, Grove City

Jack P. Krebs, Franklin

Nirmal K. Kundu, Westlake

Michael T. Lee, Medina

Ruthanne L. McCaslin, Chardon

Jerry W. Miller, Batavia

Wayne E. North, Perrysburg

Donald J. Peteya, Rocky River

Loretta A. Price, Strongsville

Timothy A. Reichard, Toledo

Gary L. Schroeder, Cincinnati

Robert G. Sherding, Dublin

Robert A. Snyder, butler

Linda Wiley, Berea

Daniel A. Wilson, Northfield

Darcey D. Wolfe, Westerville

OKLAHOMA

Robert M. Cross, Oklahoma City

Charles R. Freeman, Altus

Roger W. Harlin, Oklahoma City

David S. Haworth, Okeene

George H. Jackson, Oklahoma City

Paul C. Juen, Tulsa

Thomas K. McCoy, Tulsa

Nita K. McNeill, Mustang

Ronald W. Mollet, Edmond

Larry J. Peters, Wagoner

Stephen H. Walker, Wewoka

Larry D. Wilson, Harrah

Ricke J. Woodbridge, Ardmore

OREGON

Mary R. Blankevoort, Troutdale

Robert K. Bullard, Cornelius

W.J. Gent, Eugene

Kerry A. Greeley, Beaverton

Jill A. Hanson, Roseburg

Tommy D. Holechek, Molalla

Charles J. Koenig, Cove

Randall J. Matthiesen, Newberg

James T. Meunier, North Bend

Gerald T. Nied, Cottage Grove

Tim W. Phillips, Redmond

Frank L. Robison, Scappoose

Susan I. Schallberger, Dallas

Michael J. Schmidt, Portland

PENNSYLVANIA

Harvey R. Bendix, North Huntingdon

John J. Boyle, York

Denis L. Daman, Butler

D.T. Derstine, Sellersville

Barry M. England, Williamsburg

David R. Griswold, Millerstown

George L. Hartenstein, Glen Rock

Merritt K. Hole, West Lawn

Michael D. Hudson, Woodward

Glenn C. Hurley, Coal Center

John Ivancic, Sandy Lake

Malcolm A. Kram, Philadelphia

Bradley P. MacNeill, Bradford

David V. Medic, Clarks Mills

James A. Orsini, Kennett Square

Andrew Palmeter, Morrisville

Steven M. Radbill, Conshohocken

Kenneth R. Sanders, Chadds Ford

John R. Shaskas, Dallas

Frank E. Skacel, Derry

Gail K. Smith, Downingtown

Lenore Southam, West Chester

Larry E. Spencer, Cochranton

Barbara K. Stewart, Cochranville

Raymond W. Stock, Kempton

Thomas A. Sutch, Lansdowne

Thomas J. VanWinkle, Narberth

Mark K. Walter, Camp Hill

Arthur T. Wirtz, Mc Donald

RHODE ISLAND

Thomas B. McMillen, Cranston

SOUTH CAROLINA

Robert R. Bruner Jr., Myrtle Beach

John D. Chappell, Cowpens

William J. Fuller, Bluffton

W. David Goolsby, Spartanburg

Robert G. Hicks, Taylors

Patricia W. Hill, Simpsonville

John E. Jagar, Beaufort

Thomas E. Lawson, Summerville

Lynda T. Leffler, Kiawah Island

Zita N. Mavris, Myrtle Beach

Marilyn Michie-Grist, Greenville

Christine A. Schmeiser, Landrum

SOUTH DAKOTA

Carl R. Johnson, Sturgis

Regg D. Neiger, Arlington

Gerald B. Teachout, Yankton

Robert C. DeNovo, Knoxville

Jerry B. Flatt, Cookeville

Heber S. Johnston, Cordova

William B. Miesse, Big Sandy

Richard J. Rahija, Collierville

Margaret S. Swartout, Knoxville

Doris L. Whitton, Hendersonville

TEXAS

Dan K. Ahrens, Houston

Donald R. Allen, Alpine

Nan O. Beeler, Pecan Gap

Terry L. Blasdel, Houston

Michael L. Bomar, Wichita Falls

Barry H. Brier, Mansfield

George M. Bringhurst, Houston

Clarence R. Brown, Celina

James M. Brown, Vernon

Thomas H. Cargill, Bryan

Thomas L. Cropper, San Antonio

Elton R. Davis, Canton

Lawrence D. Eckermann, Houston

Theodore R. Gonzalez, Pflugerville

Lee Goodman, Sanger

Clayton L. Hadick, San Antonio

William M. Haglund, Houston

James E. Harris, Sugar Land

Larry D. Helms, Seguin

Robert A. Horton, Victoria

William E. Howard, Longview

Joseph R. Ingram Jr., Houston

James M. Jensen, San Antonio

Guy W. Johnsen, El Paso

Charla L. Jones, Driftwood

Dick R. Kennedy, Clifton

Joe M. King, Dallas

Allen G. Koonsen, Holland

James T. Koy, Georgetown

Donald B. Lawhorn, College Station

Jock D. Lee, Fritch

James B. Lenarduzzi, Beeville

Randale H. Levins, Odessa

George T. Lillard, Salado

Linda L. Logan, College Station

Dale S. Lonsford, La Porte

Michael K. Maris, Tyler

John T. Meyers, Morgan Mill

Paul G. Morris, Pilot Point

Charles B. Quick, Stafford

Susan E. Randlett, Katy

Perry L. Reeves, McKinney

Jesse A. Richardson, Athens

Gailyn D. Rodgers, Amarillo

Richard A. Schafer, Corpus Christi

Albert D. Scheele, Midland

James E. Sladek, Schulenburg

Janet Smith, Mineola

William A. Smylie, Sugar Land

John A. Stern, Needville

Bobby R. Stout, Nacogdoches

Johnny M. Todd, Alvarado

Jerry F. Underbrink, Kingsville

Leroy B. Vaden, Eagle Pass

Charles S. Vandermause, Austin

Michael L. Vickers, Falfurrias

Melanie S. Walker, Houston

William T. Watson, Corpus Christi

Robert L. White, Sugar Land

Robert M. White, Nemo

Gary L. Wilson, Streetman

David L. Wright, Novice

UTAH

David E. DeGering, Orem

Keith S. Lund, Park City

Henson W. Nielsen, Oak City

Donald V. Renda, Ogden

J.B. Thayn, Price

VERMONT

Guy M. Catlin, Montpelier

Virginia M. Clarke, Richmond

VIRGINIA

Christopher A. Bailey, Broad Run

Gary A. Banas, Leesburg

Michael C. Bassett, Fairfax

Gerald W. Buckland, Vinton

Trevor J. Collins, Middletown

Andrea E. Floyd, Evington

Mark H. Foley, Charlottesville

Stephen F. Gillaspie, Rockingham

William T. Goldsmith, Urbanna

Mason W. Jones, Colonial Heights

Michael D. Kastello, Hampton

Thomas A. Kawasaki, Woodbridge

Kenneth S. Latimer, Toano

John P. Lonam, Burke

Rob Meinecke, Galax

Stephen C. Osten, Blacksburg

Nolan P. Rubin, Fairfax

Bayard A. Rucker, Lebanon

Margaret J. Rucker, Lebanon

Beverly J. Silkey, Hampton

Larry T. Taylor, Wytheville

Samuel C. Whelan, Mount Solon

WASHINGTON

Steve A. Bauer, Spokane

Larry W. Bliven, Snohomish

Michael J. Boero, Eastsound

Michael J. Burdette, Loon Lake

Robert A. Clark, Greenacres

Brad L. Day, Bellingham

Donald W. Edwards, Auburn

John P. Griffin, Gig Harbor

Daniel A. Hall, Seattle

Ann M. Hargis, Edmonds

Craig Innes, Spokane

Virginia M. Johnson, Port Hadlock

Jerome I. Leise, Spokane

Marguerite Pappaioanou, Seattle

Roger N. Peterson, Edwall

Benjamin E. Satterwhite III,

Bellingham

Margaret A. Thompson, Seattle

Teresa L. Tomchick, Edmonds

William A. Wheeler, University Place

Gary A. Whitehead, Puyallup

James E. Young, Bremerton

Carollynn P. Zimmers, Poulsbo

WEST VIRGINIA

Christopher J. Bukala, Romney

Linda K. DeChambeau, Romney

Anne Gentry, Ripley

Ralph C. Lockhart, Beckley

Dennis J. Moore, Fairmont

Ross J. Young, Duck

WISCONSIN

Richard D. Alsaker, Waunakee

Dennis G. Bardelmeier, Onalaska

Daniel J. Bushard, West Bend

Michael T. Collins, Madison

Paul E. Danhaus, Wausau

Clifford J. Gidlund, Pewaukee

Daniel R. Hornickel, Whitewater

Terrence W. Johnson, Edgerton

Gordon A. Jones, De Pere

Roger E. Krogstad, Marshfield

Robert D. Lauridsen, Oconomowoc

Kathryn A. Oetjen, Fond du Lac

Christine Parks, Waterloo

Mary E. Pratt, Fontana

Ronald F. Rohde, Beaver Dam

Philip J. Schoenborn, Mukwonago

J.D. Speer, Blanchardville

John C. Thomsen, Mishicot

Charles F. Woodward, Sparta

John J. Zechlinski, Sheboygan

WYOMING

Richard G. Kiely, Encampment

INTERNATIONAL

Barry D. Magill, Calgary, Alberta

David M. Sherman, Paris

Noriko Miyano, Japan

Norman B. Williamson,

Palmerston North, New Zealand

WORLD SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY ASSOCIATION

EVENT

44th World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, July 16-19, 2019, Toronto

PROGRAM

The congress attracted 2,200 attendees. More than 100 speakers presented lectures, including presentations from 2019 WSAVA awardees. The association's annual VIP Summit tackled the global issue of veterinarians having equal access to medications. A new feature at the Congress, the WSAVA Shaping the Future lectures and panel discussions, focused on veterinary well-being.

AWARDS

WSAVA International Award for Scientific Achievement

Dr. Stephen DiBartola (California-Davis ‘76), Columbus, Ohio, for his contributions to small animal clinical practice, particularly in the areas of nephrology and acid-base disorders. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. DiBartola is professor emeritus in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. His research helped characterize familial renal amyloidosis in Abyssinian cats and polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats. Dr. DiBartola has served more than 20 years as co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and he authored the textbook “Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders in Small Animal Practice.”

Dr. Stephen DiBartola

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

WSAVA Global One Health Award

Dr. Michelle Lem (Guelph ‘01), Ottawa, Ontario, for founding the charity Community Veterinary Outreach. The charity cares for the pets of homeless people and of those in need. It also provides preventive health care, education, and support to the pet owners. In addition to establishing CVO, Dr. Lem has practiced companion animal medicine in Ottawa and New Zealand.

Dr. Michelle Lem

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

WSAVA Hill's Next Generation Award

Dr. Cynthia “Cyndie” Courtney (Virginia-Maryland ‘11), Lawrence, Kansas, won this award, recognizing the work of a veterinarian who has graduated within the past 10 years and has contributed significantly to the betterment of companion animals, the veterinary profession, and society at large. Dr. Courtney is an associate veterinarian at Grandview Animal Hospital in Grandview, Missouri, also serving as a field veterinarian for Nationwide Pet Insurance. She has established two veterinary-related social media platforms, focusing on personal wellness, wellness of animal health care teams, and veterinary business skills. Dr. Courtney has also helped facilitate a textbook drive for developing nations and collaborates with the Women's Veterinary Leadership Initiative and Snout Squad in the empowerment of women in the veterinary profession.

Dr. Cynthia “Cyndie” Courtney

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

WSAVA Award for Companion Animal Welfare

Dr. Melissa Bain (Illinois ‘94), Davis, California, for her contributions to animal welfare through the process of integrating the field of human-animal interactions with veterinary clinical behavior. Dr. Bain is a professor of clinical animal behavior at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she also serves as director of professional student clinical education. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and American College of Animal Welfare and is a past president of the ACVB and American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists.

Dr. Melissa Bain

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

BUSINESS

The WSAVA welcomed six new members, bringing its total membership to 113 associations, representing more than 200,000 veterinary professionals worldwide. The new members are veterinary education provider AO Vet, National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, Council of the Association of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Technicians of Haiti, Tanzania Small Animal Veterinary Organization, Caribbean VMA, and Emirates Veterinary Association. The Kenya Small and Companion Animal Veterinary Association, previously an associate member, is now a full member.

OFFICIALS

Drs. Shane Ryan, Singapore, president; Siraya Chunekamrai, Bangkok, vice president; Walt Ingwersen, Dundas, Ontario, immediate past president; Michael Day, Cheddar, England, honorary treasurer; Renee Chalmers Hoynck van Papendrecht, Den Helder, Netherlands, honorary secretary; and board members—Drs. Ellen van Nierop, Quito, Ecuador, and Felisbina Queiroga, Vila Real, Portugal

Dr. Shane Ryan

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

Dr. Siraya Chunekamrai

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

ASSOCIATION OF AVIAN VETERINARIANS

EVENT

Annual meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2019, St. Louis

AWARDS

Dr. T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner Award

Dr. Lorenzo Crosta, Camden, Australia. Dr. Crosta received his veterinary degree in 1989 from the University of Milan. He is an associate professor of avian and zoological medicine at the University of Sydney and director of the Avian, Reptile, and Exotic Pet Hospital in Camden. Dr. Crosta has served as the veterinary director of Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, and consulted with the Brazilian government for the Spix's macaw and Lear's macaw recovery programs. He is a diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine in zoo health management.

Dr. Lorenzo Crosta

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

AAV Lifetime Membership Award

Drs. James Carpenter (Oklahoma State ‘74), Manhattan, Kansas, and Katherine Quesenberry (Georgia ‘81), New York. A diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine, Dr. Carpenter is a clinical veterinarian and serves as a professor of exotic pet, wildlife, and zoological medicine at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is the editor of “Exotic Animal Formulary” and co-editor of “Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery.” Dr. Carpenter serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and is a past editor-in-chief of the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. He has served as president of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, AAV, and ACZM. A diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in avian practice, Dr. Quesenberry is head of the Avian and Exotic Pet Service and chief medical officer at the Animal Medical Center in New York. She serves on the editorial board and is a contributing editor of the Merck Veterinary Manual and is co-editor of “Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery.” Dr. Quesenberry served as scientific editor of the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery for almost 25 years.

Dr. James Carpenter

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

Dr. Katherine Quesenberry

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

Donald W. Zantop Memorial Lecture Honoree

Dr. Olivia Petritz, Raleigh, North Carolina, for “Pharmacokinetics of oral and intravenous administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in Rhode Island red chickens”

Student Manuscript Contest Award

Molly Horgan, University of California-Davis, for “Pharmacokinetics of a single dose of oral meloxicam in brown pelicans”

House Officer Manuscript Contest Award

Dr. Trinita Barboza, University of Guelph, for “Effects of perching surfaces and foot bandaging on weight loading on the central metatarsal foot pad of the peregrine falcon”

Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 2018-2019 Best Clinical Report, sponsored by Lafeber Company Dr. Rachel M. Baden, Saratoga, California, for “Diagnosis and treatment of a Swainson's toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii) with rhinosinusitis”

Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 2018-2019 Best Original Research, sponsored by Lafeber Company

Dr. Brett G. Darrow, Jacksonville, Florida, for “Ex vivo biomechanical comparison of titanium locking plate, stainless steel nonlocking plate, and tie-in external fixator applied by a dorsal approach on ostectomized humeri of pigeons (Columba livia)”

Research Grant Award

Avian health: Dr. Christoph Mans, University of Wisconsin-Madison, received $5,276.80 for “Evaluation of the effects of midazolam, diazepam, and mirtazapine on food intake in budgerigars”; and Dr. Dana Franzen-Klein, University of Minnesota, received $5,000 for “Reference ranges for blood lactate levels in captive raptors.” Wild bird health: Dr. Miguel Saggese, Western University of Health Sciences, received $5,000 for “Vultures as sentinels of lead ammunition banning in Southern California.”

AAV President's Service Appreciation Award

Dr. Christal Pollock, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and Brandy Nicoll, Oakley, California

OFFICIALS

Drs. Elizabeth B. Mackey, Athens, Georgia, president; Ashley Zehnder, Newark, California, president-elect; Byron de la Navarre, Chicago, treasurer; and Yvonne van Zeeland, Utrecht, Netherlands, immediate past president and conference chair

Dr. Elizabeth B. Mackey

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

Dr. Ashley Zehnder

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 256, 1; 10.2460/javma.256.1.9

DONATE BOOKS, JOURNALS, AND SUPPLIES

Veterinarians and students in foreign countries can make use of the unused textbooks, journals, instruments, equipment, and other supplies cluttering many veterinary clinics in the United States.

The AVMA maintains a list of individuals and organizations that collect contributions for various countries. The list is available at jav.ma/donate-books. Potential donors should call or email contacts on the list directly.

Individuals or organizations that collect contributions may inquire about being added to the list or updating their listing by calling 800-248-2862, ext. 6754, or emailing asuresh@avma.org.

ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS

EVENT

Annual meeting, Denver, Oct. 10, 2019

AWARDS

Veterinarian of the Year

Dr. Katherine Polak (Iowa State ‘10), Bangkok. Dr. Polak works for Four Paws International, a global animal welfare organization based in Vienna, serving as head of Stray Animal Care-Southeast Asia. She is the founding medical director for Spayathon for Puerto Rico, a coalition of 28 national and international groups working together to spay, neuter, and vaccinate dogs and cats across the island.

Meritorious Service Award

Dr. Gary Patronek (Pennsylvania ‘84), Roslindale, Massachusetts, for his service to the field of shelter medicine and animal welfare, and Dr. Claudia Baldwin (Michigan State ‘82), Ames, Iowa, for her service to shelter medicine advancement and education. A veterinary epidemiologist, Dr. Patronek is an adjunct professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and co-founder of the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium. He has served as director of the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University and as vice president of the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Now retired, Dr. Baldwin is a past director of the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, she also co-facilitated the university's Feral Cat Alliance, served on the faculty of the Center for Food Security and Public Health, and was a member of the ISU Animal Welfare Group.

OFFICIALS

Drs. Erin Doyle, Needham, Massachusetts, president; Chumkee Aziz, Houston, vice president and president-elect; Staci Cannon, Nashville, Tennessee, secretary; Cristie Kamiya, Milpitas, California, treasurer; and Elise Gingrich, Fort Collins, Colorado, immediate past president

Obituaries: AVMA MEMBER | AVMA HONOR ROLL MEMBER | NONMEMBER

RAYMOND E. BRANDT

Dr. Brandt (Colorado State ‘51), 94, Alliance, Nebraska, died Oct. 9, 2019. He was the founder of Alliance Animal Clinic. Dr. Brandt retired in 1984. He was a past president of the Nebraska VMA. Dr. Brandt is survived by his wife, Elsie; two sons and a daughter; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

MYRON L. DIMON SR.

Dr. Dimon (Cornell ‘45), 97, Oswego, New York, died July 5, 2019. He practiced primarily large animal medicine in New York's Oswego County for more than 60 years. Dr. Dimon's six daughters, a son, 13 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Oswego, 7111 State Route 104, West Oswego, NY 13126, or Gideons International Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090.

ROBERT EDMONDSON

Dr. Edmondson (Ohio State ‘44), 97, South Charleston, Ohio, died Oct. 10, 2019. He worked as a federal meat inspector for 16 years prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Edmondson owned a large animal practice in Ohio's Clark County.

A veteran of World War II, he served in the Army. Dr. Edmondson was a member of the Masonic Lodge. His three daughters, a son, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and three sisters survive him. Dr.

Edmondson's granddaughter Dr. Christina Collins (Ohio State ‘98) is a small animal veterinarian in Ohio. Memorials may be made to the Memorial Fund, South Charleston United Methodist Church, 15 E. Jamestown St., South Charleston, OH 45368.

ROBERT J. ELSNER

Dr. Elsner (Ohio State ‘48), 95, Des Moines, Iowa, died Sept. 11, 2019. He practiced in Cleveland prior to retirement. Dr. Elsner served on the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; a son and a daughter; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Temple B'Nai Jeshurun, 5101 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312, or UnityPoint Hospice-Taylor House, 3401 E. Douglas Ave., Des Moines, IA 50317.

DANIEL L. GENTRY

Dr. Gentry (Texas A&M ‘99), 46, Heath, Texas, died Aug. 20, 2019. A small animal veterinarian, he had owned Timbercreek Animal Hospital in Rockwall, Texas, since 2006. Prior to that, Dr. Gentry worked at Lake Ray Hubbard Emergency Pet Care Center in Mesquite, Texas.

He was a member of the Texas VMA. Dr. Gentry is survived by his wife, Beverly; a son and a daughter; his parents; and a brother. Memorials may be made to the Gentry Children's College Fund, American National Bank of Texas, 2865 Ridge Road, Rockwall, TX 75032.

SANDRA L. HEDGE

Dr. Hedge (Georgia ‘72), 73, Atlanta, died July 2, 2019. She practiced small animal medicine at Briarcliff Animal Clinic in Atlanta for 46 years. Dr. Hedge is survived by her mother and her brother. Memorials may be made to Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur, GA 30033.

CLINTON M. HOLLOWAY

Dr. Holloway (Georgia ‘62), 82, Plains, Georgia, died Aug. 9, 2019. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Georgia's Sumter County for 56 years. Dr. Holloway was a member of the Plains Lion Club.

His three daughters, a son, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and three brothers survive him. Memorials may be made to Plains Baptist Church, 301 Bond St., Plains, GA 31780; Plains Lions Club, Paschal St., GA 31780; or Phoebe Sumter Hospice, 126 E. Furlow St., Americus, GA 31709.

WESLEY D. MARSHALL

Dr. Marshall (Washington State ‘58), 85, Ekalaka, Montana, died Oct. 11, 2019. He practiced small animal medicine with his wife, Dr. JoAn Marshall (Washington State ‘58), at West Valley Veterinary Clinic in Lompoc, California, for 40 years. Dr. Marshall subsequently retired to Ekalaka, where he ran a cattle ranch. Early in his career, he served two years as a first lieutenant in the Army Veterinary Corps and practiced large animal medicine in British Columbia and central California.

Dr. Marshall was a member of the Lompoc Rotary Club. He is survived by his wife; two sons and a daughter; and two grandchildren. Dr. Marshall's daughter, Dr. Kerri Marshall (Washington State ‘85), is a veterinarian in Washington state. Memorials may be made to Dahl Memorial Healthcare, P.O. Box 46, Ekalaka, MT 59324.

RAYMOND D. YOUNG

Dr. Young (Oklahoma State ‘52), 95, Pleasanton, California, died Oct. 5, 2019. Following graduation, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana, before moving in 1960 to California where he joined the Oakland Zoo in Knowland Park, serving as veterinarian and zoo director. In 1969, Dr. Young began his more than 20-year career in private practice, establishing Town and Country Veterinary Hospital and Young's Veterinary Hospital in Pleasanton.

During his career, he designed a squeeze cage for zoos, to be used for handling large animals safely. Dr. Young also developed a course of treatment for canine parvovirus, using natural ingredients. He is survived by his wife, Willa; a daughter; a grandchild; and a sister. Memorials may be made to Graceway Church, 1183 Quarry Lane, Pleasanton, CA 94566.

Please report the death of a veterinarian promptly to the JAVMA News staff via a toll-free phone call at 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email at news@avma.org; or fax at 847-925-9329. For an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the date of death.

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